Fernando Alonso has revealed conversations with Adrian Newey to rectify the AMR26’s competitiveness in Formula 1 this season.
The Silverstone-based team has endured a difficult start to F1’s latest era.
The AMR26 has been a tough cookie to crack for Alonso and team-mate Lance Stroll, with Aston Martin struggling with both, its chassis and works Honda power unit.
Seven rounds into the season, the team has scored a solitary point, at Monaco – the only thing keeping them from being plum last in the Constructors’ standings.
At the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, last weekend, despite an emotional admission from Alonso that the race weekend might be his last at the track, he qualified dead last.
What’s more, during the 66-lap race, the two-time F1 World Champion was forced to retire from what could be his final race at Barcelona.
That said, the former Renault, McLaren and Ferrari driver is optimistic that with Newey on board, this particular ship can still be salvaged.
Fernando Alonso reveals Adrian Newey F1 Aston Martin discussions
Aston Martin has a lot of gremlins to eliminate with its package. The reliability of its works Honda power unit has been a particular pain point.
Further, the team has also been struggling with its gearboxes – something they have built from scratch for the first time in 2026.
And while Aston Martin works hard in the background to stabilise and correct the fundamentals of its package, no major upgrades have been fitted to the AMR26, seven rounds into the season.
But Alonso has revealed conversations he’s had with Newey about the developmental path of the package through 2026.
“I mean, we speak with him every week, so you know it’s not that we are not updated on things,” he told media including Motorsport Week.
“When he comes to the track he is always meticulously into the feedback of the driver and try to understand exactly what is what is going on in each of the corners.”
Alonso is rest assured that “the best” man is at the helm of the team’s affairs, and its only a matter of time before the car starts performing competitively.
“I think he’s thinking ahead of time, so he’s thinking what the new package will bring to that, the specific problems that we are experiencing [in Monac] and not only this one,” he added.
“He’s thinking for the Singapore package, what can be done for the next street circuit, and things like that.
“So we have the best with us, so the more time we spend with him on track, the better it will be.”
Next up for Aston Martin and Alonso is the Red Bull Ring for the Austrian GP, next weekend.
READ MORE – Fernando Alonso delivers savage F1 hybrid power unit verdict
Discussion about this post